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Randi Welsh
Jason Roberts
English 1010
December 8, 2015
The Powers of Massage Therapy
Did you know that a 60-minute massage is about the same as 7-8 hours of sleep to your
body? Massage is an important form of therapy that can be a very powerful healing aid and help
with a multitude of problems ranging from migraine headaches to osteoarthritis. There are also
various types of massage that are available to help with what may be troubling someone. But
many people are skeptical about the effectiveness of this alternative and complementary
treatment. The public does not seem to have much knowledge about this form of therapy,
although it is becoming increasingly popular. Massage is used to help in so many great ways as
you will find out.
Massage therapy has rapidly become a popular alternative treatment for everything from
stress to pain relief to rehabilitation. This upswing in popularity is mostly because of newly
passed state laws that recognize massage therapists as allied health practitioners. In the article
MASSAGE: The Power of Therapeutic Touch, author Zenobia Day informs us that,
Currently, massage is the third most prevalent form of alternative therapy being sought by US
consumers. She is allowing us to see how popular this is becoming and that the demand is
growing. The higher the demand grows the more accepted it seems to become. By doing this we
can also see that many Americans are beginning to use this therapy, or at least trying it once, to
see what it can do for them.

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Touch has been taboo in healthcare in many western societies. But every other healing
system in the world includes some form of massage and musculoskeletal manipulation
(MacGregor). For example, the use of massage as a healing art dates back to about 4,000 BC,
when it was used in China and India. This example indicates that it is effective, otherwise it
would not have been used for so long. I feel that massage should be more integrated into medical
practice in the western societies. One question I am left with is why are we so behind on using
this form of therapy and treatment? Most cultures borrow a lot from other cultures, so why
wasnt this something that we adopted from others? There are so many great benefits from it!
In the article, Can Massage Cure? by Hilary E. MacGregor it lists some ways that it is
utilized in hospitals. The most common uses are helping patients cope with pain and stress, and
as a therapeutic service for cancer and maternity patients. This demonstrates that it can be used
to help effectively treat pain and stress. If they are using it in hospitals, doesnt that suggest that
this is effective? I feel as though hospitals wouldnt use methods that dont work. Also, in a
survey done by the American Massage Therapy Assn. nearly half of Americans have used
massage therapy as a way to manage and relive pain. The number of Americans using this as
therapy is increasing each year. It is estimated that by 2012 the number of massage therapists
will have increased by twenty to thirty percent. Clearly, this shows the type of demand there is
for it. The numbers would not be growing if there wasnt some kind of benefit.
Massage is a very important therapeutic approach which is under utilized and
underappreciated. Dr. Ka-Kit Hui, director of UCLAs East-West Center in Santa Monica
explains, A lot of people think massage is good for aches and pains. But what we have found is
that massage activates the bodys own healing system. This means that our bodies can heal
themselves, with a little help. Isnt that cool? But the invention of powerful prescription pain

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medications in recent decades has diminished the use of massage in medical settings until
fairly recently. Wouldnt a massage, commonly called a rub down, be safer than taking
prescriptions or over the counter medications to have the same kind of healing effect? Dont get
me wrong, Im not saying prescription medications are bad, but wouldnt you rather try a more
natural method of treatment? I know that I sure would.
Touch is the major agent of massage therapy, which is defined as: the systematic manual
or mechanical manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. In other words, it is the practice of
manipulation, the kneading or stroking of muscles, skin, anything thats not bone or connective
tissue. These motions in a practiced order or in certain combination will allow your bodys
muscles to relax, ultimately allowing you to feel more relaxed and less stressed. Many
individuals stay in stress mode which causes your body to feel fatigued and your immune system
to wear down, which means you may be at a higher risk of getting sick. Prevention is always key,
and this could help with preventing sickness. It also shows that it is successful in relaxing the
individual receiving the massage, by lowering their stress level.
Massage can have many positive effects on the body that support its use in health care. It
can decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and increase blood circulation and the flexibility of
muscles. It also produces endorphins which help to block pain. All of these are very good
examples of why massage is an effective form of treatment. In the book Healthy Baby Toxic
World, by Eric E Millan he states, Premature babies who received massage gained 47 percent
more weight per day and were released six days earlier than their unmassaged counterparts.
This means that massage allowed the babies bodies to grow better or more efficiently. This could
partly be caused by the decreases blood pressure and heart rate and increases blood circulation.

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The body is able to distribute nutrients more successfully this way. This study helps to show the
massage can be effective in a multitude of ways, even for babies who dont understand what it is.
Some may say that this form of alternative or complementary medicine isnt scientifically
sound or does not work. Ive realized while researching that many doctors still remain skeptical
as to whether or not there is a medical benefit to massage. They usually state something along
the lines of more thorough studies are needed. However, it seems as though massage is only
used on a trial basis or by few, not allowing for enough data to be collected and be used
effectively. I can see where the doctors would be coming from, wanting there to be statistics to
prove the effectiveness so that they can show them to their patients. It feels as though many
doctors are skeptical of recommending an alternative treatment, especially when it is not backed
by enough data. But we should also be taking the initiative to try new things so that we can find
what works the best for us as individuals.
Just like any other thing, there can be a downside. Many people dont know what to
expect during or after treatment and thats usually where the downside plays in. America is
considered a non-tactile society. (Day) This means that we are touchy about being touched.
Which is okay. Some of the reasons for this could be that people dont feel comfortable with a
strangers hands all over them or theyre not comfortable taking their clothes off. But for those of
us who want to give it a try anyways there are solutions, such as a chair massage. Chair massages
usually last about fifteen minutes and you keep your clothes on. So even if you arent
comfortable with someones hands on you it wouldnt be for very long. Personally, I dont feel
comfortable with a strangers hands on me, but with time I would become more comfortable with
it. It becomes part of the normal medical routine and we stop thinking of it as being
uncomfortable.

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The only real con to massage that I have found is that it can dehydrate you. During a
massage muscles are being manipulated, allowing them to release toxins that your body then
flushes out of your system. If you dont make sure you are well hydrated the day before, the day
of, and the following day you may feel sick afterwards. Some side effects of dehydration could
be feeling light headed, nausea, and lack of appetite. While talking with your massage therapist,
prior to your appointment they should inform you to be well hydrated before your appointment
and of any side effects that could happen after receiving one.
Some may go into a massage parlor looking for a cure or hoping this will be the solution
to what has been bothering them. If you dont get the results that you are looking for there may
be a reason why. This form of therapy is designed to bring relief, not cure. Matt Meyers, a
licensed massage therapist with Barnes-Jewish Hospitals explains, Be careful to know that we
dont cure anything. We assist; we help alleviate pain. This means that we should not trust
someone who says they can cure you with massage. We should recognize that is a lie and not
allow them to lure us in with false promises. I bet that some who have had a massage may say
that it helped cure what was troubling them, however with the way that this therapy is designed it
shouldnt. Therapy is not a cure, its there to be used in combination with other methods such as
medication or exercise. There is a possibility that those in combination may cure you.
Massage therapy has many positive attributes to make it an appealing form of alternative
or complementary medicine. Your body feels more relaxed and flexible afterwards and most
people who receive one feel less stressed and happier. There have been studies done that show
the helpfulness of this therapy. Although people are still skeptical about the effectiveness, we are
seeing a rise in the demand for it which shows that it is beneficial. There arent really any

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medical reasons not try it other than dehydration, which can be prevented. So if you havent
already, go out and give it a try and see what it can do for you.

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Citations
Day, Zenobia. "MASSAGE: The Power of Therapeutic Touch." Azizah Summer 2001: 66,68,15.
ProQuest. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.
Jackson, Harry, Jr, and Louis P. St. "~ Massage Therapy ~ at Best it can Help Rehabilitate
Injury; at the Least it can make You Feel Good." St. Louis Post - Dispatch: HF.1. Aug 28
2006. ProQuest. Web. 27 Sept. 2015
Katz, David. A Complementary Approach to Medicine Helps Patients and is Scientifically
Sound. Alternative Medicine. Ed. Lynn M Zott. Detroit: Green haven press, 2012. Opposing
viewpoints. Rpt. From Questioning the Guardians of Science. Huffington Post. 2011.
Opposing Viewpoints in context. Web. 27 Sept. 2015
MacGregor, Hilary E. "Can Massage Cure?; as a Healing Aid, Hands-on Therapy Gains
Credibility at Leading Medical Centers." Los Angeles Times. Nov 22 2004. ProQuest. Web.
27 Sept. 2015.
Postrel, Virginia. "The Next Starbucks?." Atlantic Monthly Vol. 297, No. 6. July/Aug. 2006:
160+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.